Juliana Hatfield Three reunite for album, tour

The Juliana Hatfield Three – with the original lineup of Todd Philips (drums), Dean Fisher (bass) and Juliana Hatfield (guitar, vocals, keyboards, percussion) – announce a U.S. tour beginning in February.

The tour comes on the heels of their much anticipated sophomore album Whatever, My Love available Feb. 17 on American Laundromat Records.

Whatever, My Love comes 21 years after the release of its Atlantic Records debut Become What You Are which secured a permanent place in alternative rock history with the radio hits “My Sister” and “Spin The Bottle.”

 

Track List:
 
1. Invisible
2. Now That I Have Found You
3. Ordinary Guy
4. If Only We Were Dogs
5. I'm Shy
6. Dog On A Chain
7. If I Could
8. Push Pin
9. Blame The Stylist
10. I Don't Know What To Do With My Hands
11. Wood
12. Parking Lots 

Tour Dates:

February 26 PORTLAND, ME Port City Music Hall

February 27 BOSTON, MA The Sinclair
March 1 NEW YORK, NY The Bowery Ballroom
March 3 PHILADELPHIA, PA Boot & Saddle
March 4 WASHINGTON, DC Black Cat
March 6 CLEVELAND, OH Music Box Supper Club
March 7 CHICAGO, IL Lincoln Hall
March 8 ST. PAUL, MN Turf Club
March 11 SEATTLE, WA Tractor Tavern
March 12 PORTLAND, OR Doug Fir Lounge
March 14 NAPA, CA City Winery Napa
March 15 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Chapel
March 16 LOS ANGELES, CA The Roxy Theatre

Never Shout Never announce acoustic mini-tour

Alternative pop band Never Shout Never - AKA Christofer Drew and his band - has announced a 2015 North American jaunt, called the "Mid Winter's Night's Dream Acoustik Tour." It will begin in February and marks their first US tour in over a year.

The band recently completed their third tour of Brazil and released a music video of their song "Wild Child" as a documentary of the tour. A new album is due in early 2015 on Warner Brothers Records.

VIP Presales for the tour available now via Artist Arena and includes Meet and Greet Package and more. General Tickets are available today from noon local time. VIP packages will include a ticket to the show, an exclusive and limited Spring Tour Poster Signed by the band, exclusive tour laminate, and access to the band's meet and greet prior to the show.

North American 2015 Tour Dates:

Feb 20 - The Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA
Feb 24 - Club Sound - Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 25 - Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO
Feb 28 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
Mar 1 - The Loft - Lansing, MI
Mar 3 - Grog Shop - Cleveland Heights, OH
Mar 4 - The Mod Club Theatre - Toronto, ON
Mar 6 - The Marlin Room at Webster Hall - New York, NY
Mar 7 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA

nevershoutnever.com

Colin Hay album and tour news

Since I had the pleasure of doing an in-person interview with Hay a couple years ago (find it elsewhere on this blog), I'm very interested in hearing this. Read on for more info...

Colin Hay, best known as frontman, songwriter, and vocalist of '80s pop sensation Men at Work (“Down Under,” “Overkill,” “Who Can it Be Now?”), has confirmed the Feb. 17 release of a new solo album entitled Next Year People on Compass Records.
 
Some of the songs are based on Colin's personal experiences such as "Waiting in the Rain," written about his parents and the almost mystical experience he had growing up in a music shop in Scotland, surrounded by instruments and a constant stream of 1950s and '60s radio hits.

The album's title track, "Next Year People," is an homage to the depression-era farmers who kept going by holding on to hope that next year would be better. "They kept doing the same thing and expecting a different result," explains Colin. "I can relate, although their situation was so much more bleak." (Hear the track here: https://soundcloud.com/compass-records/trying-to-get-to-you)
 
People - the Aussie musician's first studio release in four years - was produced by Hay and includes contributions from Cuban musicians San Miguel Perez and Yosmel Montejo, both of whom recently emigrated from Havana, as well Larry Goldings on piano, Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel) on B3, and Colin's wife, vocalist Cecilia Noel.

Over the past 15 years, Hay has reinvented himself as a solo artist, regularly selling out theaters and listening rooms across the US and around the world and introducing himself to a new generation of fans in the process.

Frequent use of his music in TV and film—including hit shows such as Scrubs (on which he has made several cameo appearances) Army Wives and Modern Family, the hit soundtrack to the film Garden State and the recently released Words and Pictures—has proven the timeless appeal of his songs.

Tour Dates:

2/12-13 – Nashville, TN – City Winery
2/16-18 – New York, NY – City Winery
2/20-22 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
3/9 – Tucson, AZ – The Rialto Theatre
3/10-11 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
3/13 – Poway, CA – Poway Center for the Performing Arts
3/15 – Fresno, CA – Tower Theatre
3/17 – China, CA – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
3/19 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
3/20 – Napa, CA – City Winery
3/21 – San Francisco, CA – Palace of Fine Arts
3/22 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre
3/25 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
3/26-27 – Seattle, WA – Benaroya Hall
3/28 – Yakima, WA – Seasons Performing Hall
3/29 – Walla Walla, WA – Main Street Studio
3/31 – Sun Valley, ID – Sun Valley Opera House
4/4 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre

Album Track Listing:

1. Trying to Get to You
2. If I Had Been a Better Man
3. Did You Just Take the Long Way Home?
4. I Want You Back
5. Next Year People
6. Lived in Vain
7. Scattered in the Sand
8. To There from Here
9. Mr. Grogan
10. Waiting in the Rain

Bonus Tracks–CD Edition Only
11. Are We There Yet? - 3.49
12. Lament for Whisky McManus - 3.35

colinhay.com

Jamie Cullum U.S. tour and album news

Blue Note Records recording artist Jamie Cullum will kick off 2015 with a headline tour that introduces audiences to his new album, Interlude, which will be released in the U.S. on January 27.

Cullum, who is the best-selling jazz artist in U.K. history, will launch the run with an intimate show at Largo in Los Angeles on Jan. 24. For his February dates, which include an evening at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on February 5, he will be backed by a big band. Cullum recently supported Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden and Penn State and will return to the Garden on Dec. 18 and Jan. 9 to open for him. He will also open Joel’s arena concerts in Dallas (Jan. 22) and Miami (Jan. 31). See below for itinerary.

Fans can see Cullum performing a pair of tracks from Interlude live at France’s 2014 Jazz à Vienne festival:
“Interlude”
“Walkin’”

Interlude marks a shift to straight-ahead jazz and a return to interpretation from an artist who has made a habit of bending genres, writing original material and bringing new sounds and new listeners to the music.

Working with producer Benedic Lamdin of Nostalgia 77, Cullum selected a number of jewels from the American songbook, including the title track, which was penned by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli, and added a couple of modern surprises.

Fans who pre-order the digital album on iTunes.com/JamieCullum will instantly receive “My One and Only Love” plus the first single, “Good Morning Heartache” featuring Laura Mvula, and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” featuring Gregory Porter. Interlude can be pre-ordered on Amazon in CD and vinyl formats.

Cullum is the subject of a cover story in the December issue of JazzTimes. A keen amateur photographer, Jamie invited Michael Agel of Leica Camera to accompany him on tour in the U.S. earlier this year. Their photographs – and some from Cullum’s personal collection – are showcased in the exhibit “Life and Music,” which just opened at the Leica Studio-S in London.

U.S. Tour Dates:

2014
12/18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden – with Billy Joel

2015
1/9 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden – with Billy Joel
1/22 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center – with Billy Joel
1/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Largo – headline show
1/31 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena – with Billy Joel
2/3 – Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center – headline show
2/4 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre – headline show
2/5 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre – headline show
2/6 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre – headline show
2/8 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall – headline show
2/9 – San Francisco, CA @ Palace of Fine Arts – headline show
2/10 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore – headline show

DEVO "Hardcore Live!" audio/video release and LA screening

"The Hardcore show for DEVO was like relocating a tail you misplaced a lifetime ago."
- Mark Mothersbaugh

DEVO was among the most thought-provoking bands to emerge in the aftermath of punk, but before hits like "Whip It," they worked in the basements and garages of Akron, Ohio to make raw, unfiltered music that the group called "hardcore DEVO."

This past summer, DEVO did 10 shows performing these seminal pre-fame songs, created between 1974-77 and rarely played since then. Shot at the Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif., DEVO "Hardcore Live!" will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, CD, and vinyl Feb. 10.

The concert film captures these groundbreaking artists performing the songs that started it all, interwoven with interviews revealing the history of the band. In total, these 21 oddities serve as a tribute to departed, original DEVO bandmate, Robert "Bob 2" Casale. 

 

A special screening event will be held on Jan. 17 at 7:30 PM at the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Boulevard - Hollywood, CA 90028). A discussion with director Keirda Bahruth, co-producer Rick Ballard, and DEVO members Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald V. Casale, and Bob Mothersbaugh will follow.

View the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl7rbDxMyMg

KC and The Sunshine Band celebrate 1960s on new album

KC and The Sunshine Band dominated the 1970s, ruling the airwaves with a unique meeting of Caribbean, pop, R&B and latin styles that inspired infectious grooves and the distinctive Sunshine Sound, producing such #1 hits as “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Boogie Shoes,” "Shake Your Booty,” and more.

Before he made the world dance to his music, Harry Wayne “KC” Casey was, like the rest of America, being shaped by the music, conflicts, innocence, sex, social and political movements and counterculture of the 1960s.

“The widespread social and political issues of the 1960s was, in part, the inspiration to do something that would make people forget about their problems and be happy,” said Casey. “People were looking for something that would divert their attention from the negative aspects of everyday life surrounding them.”

KC and The Sunshine Band pays tribute to the era on March 10 with Feeling You! The 60's. The album - the act's first studio effort since 2007 - is part one of the two-part Feeling You project, features covers of songs by sixties legends Bob Dylan, Ben E. King, The Kinks, The Righteous Brothers, Jackie DeShannon, Aaron Neville and many more (full track listing below).

“I’m excited for my fans to hear this album,” said Casey. “I really went outside of the box vocally and creatively. Feeling You! The 60's is autobiographical, showing how I feel about love, life and the world through the music of that era.”

Track Listing:
 
(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me (4:12)
Oh How Happy (2:58)
Dreams (5:29)
Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu (2:51)
Words (3:03)
You Really Got A Hold On Me (3:12)
Both Sides Now (4:03)
Tell It Like It Is (3:08)
Blowin’ In The Wind (5:06) Feat. The Unity On The Bay Choir
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling (4:22) Feat. Jason Scheff
You Really Got Me (2:32)
Sweet Soul Music (2:11)
I Hear A Symphony (4:44)
Stand By Me (5:31)
You Keep Me Hanging On (3:35)
Bring It On Home (3:50)
Put A Little Love In Your Heart (3:43)
 
Tour dates:

12.27.2014 Paragon Casino Resort / Marksville, LA
12.31.2014 The Venetian / Macao, China
01.22.2014 Community Arts Center / Williamsport, PA
01.23.2015 NYCB Theatre at Westbury / Westbury, NY
01.24.2015 Valley Forge Casino / King of Prussia, PA
02.25.2015 Soul Train Cruise / San Juan, PR
03.20.2015 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino / Hollywood, FL
08.08.2015 Tropicana / Atlantic City, NJ
08.29.2015 Monticello Grand Casino / Santiago, Chile
08.30.2015 Monticello Grand Casino / Santiago, Chile  

'Live from the Artists Den' announces 2015 episodes

Kicking off Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 (check local listings), the ninth season of Live from the Artists Den premieres nationwide on public television with a performance from Zac Brown Band at Forest Hills Stadium in New York.

The long-running, critically acclaimed concert series creatively connects fans with a stunning roster of icons and emerging stars performing in unique and historic venues across the United States. The new season also includes high definition episodes from blues-rock band Alabama Shakes, alternative rock band Cage the Elephant and Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice. 

Available via mobile services, Samsung's Milk VideoTM will broadcast mobile versions of these Artists Den episodes each week, while Samsung's Milk MusicTM will launch live audio tracks from each episode as part of its newly created Artists Den Live Music station. The Artists Den continues to expand its global fan community, and its exclusive availability on Samsung's Milk services will extend access to millions of new viewers.

For Zac Brown Band, the opportunity to perform at the Forest Hills Stadium in New York - where The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Who, and many other legendary artists performed in the 1960s and 1970s - was a special experience. "It's always intriguing to be in New York," Zac Brown said. "It's exciting to be part of the heritage of what actually went down here."

The Alabama Shakes' performance in a barn attached to Nashville's iconic Loveless Café was a first for the critically acclaimed young band. "We've never played in a barn before," frontwoman Brittany Howard said in an interview that will be included in the band's episode. "It's nice to play somewhere like this, because it's got a little more character and a little more flavor than some sort of new venue."

SEASON 9 EPISODES

Zac Brown Band at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY

The Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band brings music back to the historic Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY, with a hit-filled performance under the stars. Incorporating a mix of country, bluegrass, reggae, Southern rock, and jam music into its performance, the set includes such fan favorites as "Jump Right In," "Colder Weather," "Free," and "Day For The Dead" from the 2013 EP, The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1.

Alabama Shakes at the Loveless Barn in Nashville, TN

The band deliver a crushingly electric set at the rustic-chic Loveless Barn behind Nashville's famous Loveless Cafe. Beneath white lights strung from the rafters, the six-piece band dash through blistering rockabilly boogies and eruptive country-soul ballads from both their 2012 debut album, Boys & Girls, and the collection of new material earmarked for the band's much-anticipated follow-up.

Cage the Elephant at the Santa Barbara Art Foundry in Santa Barbara, CA

This group brings its soulfully psychedelic sound to the Santa Barbara Art Foundry. Thriving off the energy of the crowd, the band tears though a set drawn mostly from their current album Melophobia - which just received a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album - before ending the night with a shirtless Matt Shultz held aloft by the cheering crowd, a triumphant exclamation point to an unforgettable performance.

Damien Rice at the Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn, NY

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice delivers an unforgettable performance at the Greenpoint Loft, a 19th-century warehouse on the Brooklyn waterfront. Concentrating largely on material from his acclaimed new album My Favorite Faded Fantasy - Rice's first in eight years - the heartrending set was performed solo before Rice thrilled fans with a full backing choir on his uplifting new song "Trusty and True."